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Did you know that Dallas has a canyon? But it’s not what you think. Curious Texas explains

James McDonald asked Curious Texas: What is the Canyon in Dallas? I hear it in traffic reports all of the time.

Did you know that Dallas has a canyon? But it’s not what you think. Curious Texas explains.

Dallas has its small hills here and there, but the city is flat for the most part. Residents can usually see the Dallas’ skyscrapers miles from downtown if they get on high enough ground.

The city's iconic skyline was even the inspiration behind Dallas Independent School District's Skyline High School. The school was named in 1969 based on its "striking view of downtown Dallas," The Dallas Morning News reported at the time.

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If Dallas is so flat, what are traffic reporters referring to when they mention the "Canyon"? This stumped James McDonald, who asked Curious Texas: "What is the Canyon in Dallas? I hear it on the traffic [reports] all the time."

Curious Texas is a special project from The Dallas Morning News. You ask questions, our...
Curious Texas is a special project from The Dallas Morning News. You ask questions, our journalists find answers.

His question is part of Curious Texas, an ongoing project from The News that invites readers to join in our reporting process. The idea is simple: You have questions, and our journalists are trained to track down answers.

You can send us your Curious Texas questions by texting "DMN" to 214-817-3868. Follow the prompts and introduce yourself to us, share your story or questions, and we'll text you with information as we report the story.

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Tony Hartzel, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Transportation, said the area referred to as the Canyon is the part of Interstate 30 that runs along the south side of downtown separating downtown Dallas and the Cedars.

Traffic on  Interstate 30 westbound moves near the Interstate 30 and 35E interchange in...
Traffic on Interstate 30 westbound moves near the Interstate 30 and 35E interchange in Dallas, Friday, Feb. 17, 2017. (Jae S. Lee / Staff Photographer)

“It got the nickname because, in the portion from roughly I-35 to I-45, the roadway is depressed and is much lower than its surroundings,” he wrote in an email. “That provides a canyon effect.”

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Hartzel said he wasn’t aware of any passed legislation that may have given that portion of I-30 its nickname.

The Canyon was part of the final strip of R.L. Thornton Freeway to be completed in 1966. The construction of the freeway began in the early 1950s. The downtown portion of the freeway alone cost approximately $25 million, The News reported at the time.

Cars driving on the newly completely R.L. Thornton Freeway on July 1966.
Cars driving on the newly completely R.L. Thornton Freeway on July 1966.(CLINT GRANT/The Dallas Morning News / Dallas History and Archives Division)

The first people to pass through the new leg of the freeway were the family members of the late R.L. Thornton, the former Dallas mayor for whom the freeway is named, according to The News' archives.

Dallas officials knew the massive project would cause problems for locals who were not accustomed to traveling through the new freeway system, which included 11 entrances and exits within the 1.8-mile strip.

The view of Interstate 30 from the S. Harwood Street bridge on Saturday, June 18, 2016 in...
The view of Interstate 30 from the S. Harwood Street bridge on Saturday, June 18, 2016 in Dallas.(Ashley Landis / Staff Photographer)

Fliers, radio commercials, billboards and other advertisements educated drivers about how to navigate the freeway months before its construction was complete.

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In recent years, TxDOT has considered reconstructing the Canyon, leading to mixed emotions from residents and business owners around the area.

Over the last several years, the Cedars’ former warehouse buildings have been transformed into luxury apartments and businesses, which has increased the number of people in the area. TxDOT’s proposed  changes would add more sidewalk space to connect the neighborhood to downtown and other popular areas, such as the Farmers Market.

Opponents of the plan have said in the past that the changes will lead to increased traffic in an already busy part of Dallas.

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TxDOT has previously said the proposed changes to the Canyon are the first step to bringing Dallas' neighborhood's closer together as the city's overall population continues to grow.

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